Re "A more worldly Oscar," editorial, Feb. 7
We're always grateful when The Times diverts its attention from weightier matters to help us manage our Oscar awards.
The annual recognition of the work of five foreign language films by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the category The Times wants to expunge is an honor that is passionately sought and deeply valued.
We talk constantly with filmmakers around the world and can promise that if we were to tell them that we were eliminating the category that annually and reliably showcases five of them, but that we had been assured by The Times that they would probably receive more best picture nominations as a result, the howls of protest would reverberate from Beijing to Bucharest.
BRUCE DAVIS
\o7Executive director, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and \f7\o7Sciences
\f7
